Saddletree-bar and steel fork.



"No. 895,707. PATENTBD AUG. 11, 1908.

M I J. P. WROE.

,SADDLETREE BAR AND STEEL PORK.

APPLIdATION FILED 0UT. 6, 19.06.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 11, 1903. J. P. WROE. I SADDLETREE BAR AND STEEL FORK.

APPLIGATION FILED 0OT.6, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

attain UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES P. WROE, OF LAGRANGE, TEXAS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO GEORGE J.MAUER, OF

LAGRANGE, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

.Patented Aug. 11, 1908.

Application filed October 6, 1906. Serial No. 337,794.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES P. WRoE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Lagrange, in the county of Fayette and State of Texas, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Saddletree-Bars andSteel Forks; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,and exact description of the invention, such as will enable othersskilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to saddles, and has for an' object to provide asaddle-tree embodying new and improved elements of convenience, strengthand comfort.

A further object of the invention is to provide a metallic saddle-forkand improved ineans for connecting the saddle-fork to the A furtherobject of the invention is to provide a saddle-tree having a bar and animproved metallic fork rigidly connected therewith and with the gulletortion of the saddle completed by means 0 a curved wooden member rigidlyconnected with the fork.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a saddle-treeimproved adjustable stirrup-leather securing device.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a saddle a treehaving a curvature arranged to permit the rider to secure himself firmlyupon the said saddle by locking his legs beneath and into the curvature.

A further object of the invention is to provide a saddle-tree bar soarranged as to hold the ground seat out of contact with the back of theanimal ridden and permit a current of air through the saddle at alltimes.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certainnovel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts, as will behereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings :Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improvedsaddle-tree com rising the bar, the metallic fork and stirrup leatherfastening device. Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the frameportions shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of theimproved saddle-tree frame taken on line 33 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is aperspective view of the improved tree member or fork. Fig. 5 is aperspective view of the improved adj ustable stirrup leather securingmeans.

Like characters of reference designate corviews.

' The saddle-tree forming the subject-matter of this application,comprises spaced bars 10 of substantially the ordinary construction, butreferably formed thicker than usual to hol d the ground seat of saddleout of contact with the horses back and at the same time permit acirculation of air through the tree and between the raised bars. Thebars 10 are connected at their rear ends by means of the usual curvedframe portion 11 provided with a curved opening 13 to arch over thehorses back.

At the forward end the bars 10 are rigidly secured together by means ofthe fork 14 shown in perspective in Fig. 4, and comprising the legs 15and 16, forming the arched gullet 17 of the saddle-tree. The fork member14 is provided with reversely inclined.

portions 18 and 19 arranged to conform substantially to the inclinationof the bars 10 and rigidly secured thereto by means of staple rivets 2Oengaging within notches 21 at the extremities of the legs 15 and 16. Thefork 14 is preferably formed of metal and to provide the desired roll,as 22, without adding undue weight to the saddle-tree is formed hollowor concave as shown at 23 in Fig. 4.

The fork 14 is also provided with openings 24 through which are insertedscrews 25 positioned andproportioned to be inserted into and engage agullet portion 26 preferably formed of wood. The fork is furtherprovided with a clip bolt 27 having a head 28, which prevents the saidclip from being dislocated relative to the tree and having its end 29bent over and embracing the gullet member26 and secured, if necessary,by means of a screw or other fastening 30.

The bars 10 are provided with depressions or indentations 31 arrangedand proportioned to accommodate an adjustable stirrup leather securingmeans, shown as a whole at 33 and comprising each a semi-flexiblenietallic strap provided with spaced openings as 34 in one part and 35in the opposite member and with oppositely disposed openings 36. Thestirrup leather securing device is folded as at 37 embracing a rigid bar38 and provided with openings 39 adjacent the said bar and formedthrough both members of the fastening. The fastening device is securedto embrace thebars 10.and within the depressions 31 as by the rivets orother fastening means arid 41, and with the openings 39 and bar 38disposed at opposite sides of the saddle and below the bars 10.

The fork 14 is continued at its upper end to form the usual pommel 42,and the entire structure, formed as described, is preferably coveredwith any approved covering sheet, preferably rawhide, in substantiallythe usual manner, except that the said cover or envelop is sewed nearthe inner edges of the bars 10 in the position shown at 43, being insuch position as not to engage or injure the back of the horse. Tofurther accommodate the stirrup leather fastening device the fork 14 isformed adjacent its lower end with a cut-out portion 44, whereby thestrap 33 may be disposed further forward u on the bars 10 and somewhatbeneath the ro lshown at 22. The cut-out portion 44 is also arranged tofit under the ground seat.

It is to be understood that the device shown and described illustratesonly the frame-work of a saddle-tree upon which the superstructure iserected and the superstructure may embody any usual and improved formand configuration. It is to be especially noted that the fork 14 isprovided with a bulged portion 22 forming the rearwardly extending rollbeneath which the rider may clasp or grip his legs to retain his seatupon the saddle and to prevent being thrown therefrom. The fork composedof metal, as described, is rigidly secured to the bars 10 and designedto provide a tree of the desired and necessary form and to present thenecessary strength and rigidity to withstand the strains of riding,roping and all other strains to which the saddle is normally orextraordinarily subjected.

The stirrup leather securing device is arranged to be used upon saddlesof various sizes and by reason of the spaced registering openings mayembrace and be secured upon bars of various sizes. With the use of thestirrup leather securing means the stirrup leather or strap extends onlythereto and is removable therefrom so that in case of breakage or otheraccident the stirrup leather may be cheaply replaced while the stirrupfastening means provides a device of great strength and economy, savinga very consid erable amount of leather in each pair of stirrup leathersand also lessening the labor required to build up the ground seat.

What Iclaim is 1. In a saddle-tree, a stirrup leather fastening devicecomprising a sheet of semi-flexible material folde upon a rigid bar andprovided with registering openings adjacent the bar, and with one endlonger than the other and arranged to fold over and upon the shorter endand provided with spaced registering openings adapted to receivefastening means.

2; In a saddletree, a branched fork embodying rearwardly extending rollsdefining hollows in the vertical sides conforming substantially with therolls.

3. In a saddle tree, a branched fork having rearwardly extending rollportions cut away at the lower end along reversely inclined lines,notched extensions formed upon the ends of the branched fork, and meansembracing the notched extensions adapted for securing the tree to thesaddle bar.

4. In a saddle tree, a branched fork embodying rearwardly extending rollportions.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES P. WROE.

Witnesses:

W. L. J ONES, J. B. STAVINOLIA.

